Monday, April 15, 2013

After the death of Robert Champion Jr. and complains of other hazing incidents, Florida A&M University created stricter rules and penalties to end hazing. Which is good, most universities do that in order to avoid lawsuits and prevent student deaths. However, some silly students and their parents think it's too harsh.

Really, they think it's too harsh.

A handful of students, as well as the father of a FAMU student, pleaded Thursday with the university board of trustees to help them.

"The efforts put forth to eradicate the culture of hazing has gone overboard," Inita Knox told trustees during a meeting held on FAMU's campus.

A FAMU sorority was investigated for hazing this past February after someone posted a complaint on the university anti-hazing website. The Tallahassee Democrat reported late last month that the Leon County Sheriff's Office decided against pursuing criminal charges in the case. But a report said pledges were forced to do exercise squats and memorize information about sorority members during the gathering, which occurred from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. That led to the university decision to dismiss several students from school - some for periods up to five years.

Interim President Larry Robinson, who would not discuss any individual students, said that university officials discovered that the hazing allegations had "some merit."Robinson said the university had an obligation to look into what happened even though no criminal charges were filed. While the university would not provide exact details, the school's new anti-hazing administrator said that 15 students have been dismissed this year so far over hazing allegations.

Knox, a pledge of Delta Sigma Theta, passed out during the session and was eventually interviewed by police. She told trustees that she had a heart condition and that she had tried to hand over that information to university officials but that she and other pledges had been given the "runaround." Reggie Sylvain drove from Atlanta to also complain to trustees. He told them that his daughter had been dismissed from school even though she was scheduled to graduate in a few weeks. Sylvain refused to talk to reporters after he addressed the university board. Another student said the experience has been a nightmare"

Maybe I'm crazy to think it's a great idea for a university to have strict rules on hazing. I guess since I'm an administrator at USC, I totally get that. But what I don't get are these folks whining about the issue. People have died from hazing. Lost their lives for pledging in a fraternity or a sorority, and in some cases a marching band. It's ridiculous to stand there and try to debate this. Lives, the university's integrity and the image of these groups are at stake here. I don't get why they are whining about this?

Hazing is a foolish, archaic act. When lives are lost over it; stop it, eradicate it immediately Why risk your life or any lives for 3 Greek letters? It's not worth it. And to the parents and students who are complaining, sit your silly asses down and think about someone else for a change. In fact, think about Robert Champion Jr's family and all the other families that lost their children over hazing.